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To those who ministry in the Kingdom of God, here's a story that was received from the Family Life Pastor of a church in Kankakee, Illinois.  I wanted to share with you a story.  I hope this encourages you in the ministry where God has placed you. The Pastor begins...
I received a call on Saturday from Linda Shaffer.  Linda is a long ago member of first church who moved from the area about 15 years ago.  She informed me that her granddaughter, Lindsey Hall, age 22, had died of an epidictic seizure, and asked if I would do a memorial service for her.

Lindsey’s mother was 16 years old when Lindsey was born and her grandmother raised her.  Grandmother and Granddaughter attended first church until Lindsey was in 2nd grade and then they moved with her Lindsey's mom to Montana . 

From what I have been told, Lindsey did not have an opportunity to continue going to church once she went to live with her mom.  As she became a teenager, the whole church scene faded from her life.  But, when she became an independent adult and moved back to the Kankakee area, she began looking for a church to belong to and began Christian counseling.  

Her pastor in Montana says that Lindsey turned her life around in this past year.  She often spoke of her time at first church as a child and what that meant to her.  The thing that connected Lindsey to her past childhood church was the kids choir. She had a picture of herself and Kelly Coffee in a church musical in second grade that she held on to as a reminder of first church, and this memory was very important to her as she decided to return to church. 

I know that ministry can be exhausting at times. 

I know that ministry can become routine as each Sunday we do what we do.

I know that it is so easy to see only the project and not the people.

I know that it is easy for us to not always embrace the long term impact we are making as we minister to teens and children.

I know that sometimes it is so easy to forget that IT REALLY DOES MATTER.

I know that God can use the smallest things to build His kingdom, things that we don’t always realize as significant.

I know that it is not about us, it is about what God is doing and all we need to do is be faithful to the people he has called us to.

As I try to write a memorial service today, my thoughts are with you, leaders in the church who have made the commitment to serve as the hands of God.  As you go through this week, remember that whatever it is that you do in Kingdom work, if it be providing media, working in the nursery, preparing Sunday school lessons, providing food, teaching college students, organizing a prayer group, sitting at the welcome center, visitation, coaching basketball, putting up a tent at a church camp-out, taking photos……….  God has used a floating hammer, a shepherd’s staff, a smooth stone, some fish and bread to further the Kingdom.... do you really think it matters to him that you don't always 'feel' qualified or an expert in your work?

What you need to know today, and remember always is that, what you do really does matter to God and it might be the one thing that is done which a prodigal daughter or son will one day remember; and come back home.
 


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